The playoff chaos just turned up another notch at Gateway. Denny Hamlin cashed in on pit road strategy for his fifth win of the season, while the Next Gen car’s issues once again stole the spotlight with follow-the-leader racing and limited passing. Add in controversial wrecks, Toyota’s sudden dominance, and Haas making a shocking manufacturer switch, and this weekend gave fans plenty to chew on.
Gateway was less about pure speed and more about pit road chess, where the right cycle could make or break your day. Hamlin and the 11 crew nailed it, others faltered, and the ripple effects across the playoff standings are massive. Bubba Wallace now looks like a spoiler, Austin Dillon is clawing below the cut line, and Bowman and Berry are already in must-win territory. Meanwhile, the off-track news may prove just as important as the race itself, with Haas’ manufacturer shakeup signaling big shifts for 2026. The road to Phoenix is getting ruthless, and Gateway may be remembered as the turning point where momentum and controversy collided. What did you think — was this race strategy brilliance, or just another example of the Next Gen’s flaws?
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